Flares are back in.....

[Guest]

I have just been down on the boat checking the flares. Some were dated 12/96!!! I suppose it is time to replace the lot. I was wondering how many of each to get. The boat is 31' with a long keel. I was thinking of 4 x Red Parachutes, 4 x Red Handflares, 2 x Orange Handsmoke and 2 x White Ship Scarers. Do you think that this is about right? Also where is the best place to get them from? The local chandler or the internet? Is one allowed to get them through the post? Also should I keep the old ones on the boat (just in case!) or can they become unstable? If so where is the best place to dispose of them? I assume it is best to avoid Pains Wessex after the land-mine disclosure. Which munufacturer is the next best bet? Too many questions! Sorry. Ta in advance.

 

[gtmoore]

There was quite a good thread on Scuttlebutt last week called Out of Date Flares which answers some of these questions and includes some input from a Coast Guard.

Consensus seems to be that you can ditch your old ones at the Coast Guard and also at a Police Station.

Quite interesting reading - especially the bit about a two year out of date parachute flare performing so badly

HTH

 

[quaelgeist2]

What I took from the mentioned and other discussions is however that
- a lot of people testing flares have trouble even with current ones ! (documented cases in one of the recent YM or PBO)
- many people have tested age-old flares and found them working properly

Mind you, keeping them dry (e.g. rice in a sock method) and and dark seems to have more effect than age alone !

chris

 

[Guest]

A local chandler has just told me that Plastimo flares are re-badged Pains Wessex ones but I am not sure if this is the case. Anyone know?

 

[kgi]

Alex you will find that your flares will last twice as long if, from new they are individually sealed in industrial grade polythene, as for your flare selection, yes to all of them except the white flares, hand held spotlight is much more effective and at a longer range, and the orange handsmokes, great if there is no wind but once the wind gets up to about F3/4 the smoke is awfully thin plus the burn time is real short, seriously consider the lifesmoke canisters from Pains Wessex.... cheers keith

 

[LORDNELSON]

Buy the minimum number you feel reasonable and then add one (say) of each every year, this way you will not again have to replace the whole lot at once

 

[LadyInBed]

The size of the boat is (less / of no) importance. Its down to the sort of sailing you do as to whether you need a coastal, off shore or ocean pack. But I reckon the more you have, the less reluctant you will be to use them, so don't throw out the old ones and use them first.
It's very good advice to buy a new flare a year.

 

[Jeremy_W]

I'd say you're right on everything except the ship-scarer whites. If you ever really need to use them you could get through more than two in a single incident.

 

[wrr]

Have a look at the MCA (http://www.mcga.gov.uk/) website for details of a prosecution of a boatowner who tangled with Portland breakwater. There was a significant fine (£1000) related to flares and lifebuoys. I am aware that coastguards are asking questions concerning in-date flares even after minor incidents. £1000 buys a lot of flares!

 

[BlackSheep]

Sound advice to keep a rolling re-supply of flares each year, but I'm not so sure about using the older ones first (As suggested by an earlier reply). Why? - to save money! I'm damn sure that if it got to the stage I was considering lighting up the sky I'd want the best chance possible of someone responding first time...newest is best - hang on to the older ones as back up by all means. As to when to get rid of them...well how long is a piece of string etc.., I would suggest its down to how they are stored.. in a sealed dry container is best and bin them as soon as there is any sign of damage or leakage. Best way to get rid of old flares is to call yr nearest CG ops room - tel nos found in almanacs etc.. mind you we did have some handed in the other day dated 1967!!! - that really is kicking the a**e out of it...

 

[Shanty]

Unofficial advice from reputable sources suggests that it is worth keeping old flares for about 3 years past their expiry date as a backup.

As well as being kept dry, flares should not be allowed to rattle around in a container - stuff something in with them. I keep a pair of welder's gauntlets in the polybottle with the flares - helps stop them battering themselves to pieces, and means I have some hand protection available if I ever need to use the flares.

 

[milltech]

Re: Flares, and where to buy them

This is a bit commercial but I have a few hundred MK.7 red hand-flares and Pinpoint orange smokes, plus a few Buoyant smokes on shortish dates and a few white parachutes. All these are on my site at www.allgadgets.co.uk.

I purchased them all from the Sowester receivers, the Mk. 7's for example are £3.38 each! I also have Coastal, Inshore and Collision kegs but I've been too idle to get them on the site, you'd have to e-mail me. I also have cut-price PW polybottles from the same source.



John